Hi, Ann! Welcome to Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews. We’re excited about this opportunity to let our readers get to know you better, and to celebrate with you Release Day at Liquid Silver Books for your new book, The Bodyguards’ Princess. I’m sure everyone is going to want to run right over to LSB to get a copy, but today one lucky commentor is going to win their very own copy of The Bodyguards’ Princess! Just post a comment and we’ll select one at random to receive a copy of this wonderful eBook.
Becky: Where did you get the idea for a story combining a ménage romance with a plot line about terrorists?
Ann: My muse is insane? Just kidding. 😉 I don’t want to go too much into the terrorist aspect so I don’t ruin the story, but I got a good deal of my ideas from actually having grown up in Michigan and attended the event where the big showdown happens. As for Asher and Kent, I was thinking about how hard it would be for any one man to take care of Lalita. She has a good heart, but if she thinks things aren’t being handled right she’s apt to go her own way. She needs two strong, dominant men to help keep her alive. Not to say that she always goes along with their program, but when I initially just started out with Asher as her bodyguard he promptly told me he would quit without backup. Plus, who wouldn’t want two amazing men that would literally do anything to keep you safe and make you happy?
Becky: You write books in a variety of genres. How do you prepare yourself for each new book?
Ann: I wish I could say that I have some process that I follow, but honestly I write whatever story is occupying my mind at the moment. Having worked in the strict confines of the corporate world I’ve had more than enough of people telling me what I can and cannot think. I love the freedom of being an author, of letting my muse take me wherever she wants. I never know what is going to inspire me. For example in my coming soon 1 Night Stand short story, Sensation Play, it all started with a picture. I was looking through picture sites and stumbled across this gorgeous photo of a woman bound with black lace being fed chocolate by a mystery man. That picture stuck with my subconscious and I began to build a story around what had happened to get her in that position and what fun things were going to happen later on that night. I often work on two books at once, and I’m usually going from one genre to another. Like from cowboys in 1870’s Kansas to lust filled demons. By having such different books it allows me to keep from getting burned out on one type of genre and always look forward to my next book. I have around eight or nine plots tucked away in my plot folder, patiently waiting for me to get around to them. Thankfully I type rather fast so I’m able to keep up with my ideas which has turned me into a somewhat prolific author. Right now I have tweleve books under contract, not too shabby considering I started writing in August of ’10 and sold my first book January of ’11. 😉
Becky: Is The Bodyguards’ Princess the beginning of a series and will Blondie get his own story? (Can you tell I’m hoping so?)
Ann: Sadly, no the The Bodyguards’ Princess is a stand-alone. However…Blondie and Diana have been whispering to me about how they met and how a country girl from rural Michigan found the courage to quit her job and to start a BDSM club in Detroit and marry a fabulous drag queen. So in the not too distant future I see myself doing a novella/prequel about Blondie and Diana’s love story. (Becky: Yay! I loved Blondie and Diana!)
Becky: What are you currently working on?
Ann: Right now I’m working on Onyx Moon, book 4 in my ‘Prides of the Moon’ erotic shifters series with Decadent Publishing. I’m also working on Princess of Lust, book 2 of my ‘For the Love of Evil’ series. See, there is my schizophrenia in action. 😉 The jungles of Jamaica during the day with two hot shifter men and Hell in the late 1800’s in the evening with a demon princess.
Becky: Tell us about a typical day for you as a writer.
Ann: 5-6 am get up with my 1 yo son who likes to wake up at the crack of dawn. Then my 3 yo and 5 yo boys straggle out of bed and I begin my day as their chef/maid/entertainment coordinator/chauffeur. Sometime during the morning I usually squeeze in an hour or so of writing and an hour or so of answering emails etc. I get another chance to work during the golden time of nap hour- cue choir of angels singing-. And finally, at the end of the night when the children are all tucked in their bed, in between calls of ‘I’m hungry/sleepy/have to go to the bathroom/it’s too dark/it’s too light/I’m not tired/he touched me/he breathed on me/the dog breathed one me/my pajamas itch/I’m cold/I’m hot/I want a cuddle I usually get some more work done. I think the pressure actually helps me write. I don’t have time to f’ around, when I sit down at that computer it’s do or die.
Becky: What do you like to read?
Ann: Everything. 🙂 If you think my genre writing is eclectic, you should see my book case. Just looking at the top shelf of books, not even going into what’s on my Kindle, we have Kim Harrison, Stephen King, a Norman Rockwell biography, a Zombie survival guide, Laurel K Hamilton, Shel Silverstein, a Shi comic book, a baby journal that I have yet to fill out-bad mom-, Angela Knight, Jude Deveraux, and last but not least an economics book that details the rise and fall of Detroit. I’m one of those people that would rather read than watch TV, unless it’s the Antiques Roadshow or True Blood. 😉 I love knowledge and I believe that we are so privileged to live in a country where we have the freedom and ability to learn about pretty much anything that strikes out fancy.
Becky: What is the hardest thing for you to write about?
Ann: I absolutely hate writing about anything bad happening to children. When I write I pretty much live my stories and the thought of anything bad happening to a child tears at my heart. I also hate it when animals get hurt so I will rarely write about that as well. Children and animals have such innocent souls and I go all mama bear crazy at the thought of anyone hurting either of them. Oh, and I hate writing fight scenes. Yes, I get all mopey and heartbroken when my characters are mad at each other.
Becky: Gosh, thank you so much, Ann! This has been fun and enlightening! OK, everybody… start posting your comments below and tonight we’ll draw a name out of a hat to choose the lucky winner! One…two…three…GO!
I loved Amber Moon.
Great interview, Ann. The Bodyguards’ Princess sounds like a great read. 🙂
Midia- Thank you! Emerald Moon, Ben’s book, is coming out later this month. 🙂
Shay- Thanks, Shay!
Great interview. I read the book review first and it really sounds interesting. I’ll have to put it on the to buy list.
Good luck with all the little ones. I know they can be a handful but just wait until they’re teens!
Terri
I love the sound of this story – if I don’t win it, I’m going to have to buy it 🙂
Jacki
Sounds like a very interesting read!!! Great interview and I’m looking forward to checking out this book.
That was a great interview and Congratulations on the new release!
I am originally from MI and look forward to seeing which event is in the book. It really sounds like a great book 🙂
Gigi s
Oh! Another book with Michigan in it. I like it! I just read Sodom and Detroit and found it to be good. I like this blog. Specifically the comment on the review of a review. I sometimes feel the same. What book were they reading?!?!??!
Great review B..and another reader had told me to read Blessed. I just added it to my TRB list. Now adding The Bodyguard’s Princess. It seems like a unique story.
I can’t wait to read The Bodyguards’ Princess. I actually bought it this morning…
Sounds like a great book. I will have to put it in my travel reading pile for when I have a 16 hour transatlantic travel day next week 🙂
Great interview. Thanks for letting us get to know you Ann!
Great interview and sounds like an interesting book. Thanks.
Tiss
Terri- I plan on asking my husband to put me in a medical coma when all three reach their teenage years and waking me up when their in college.
Jacki- Thank you 🙂 I wanted to show that erotica can be hot AND interesting.
Crystal- Thanks for stopping by and listening/reading my rambling. 🙂
La Crimson Femme- What can I say, I love the Big D. 🙂 I took a couple local places and put them in The Bodyguards’ Princess like Noir Leather and the bar Blondies. Really glad that you’ve read Sodom and Detroit as well. A person reading more than one of my books makes me clap and giggle. 😉
April- Woot! A reader recommendation, the best kind. 🙂 All my stories, I think, are rather eccentric. I hope you enjoy my weird little worlds.
Wendy- kisses- That’s why I love you! 😀
Mostly- You’re welcome. My husband said I’m more open about myself to strangers on the Internet than people in the ‘real world’.-snork-
Tess- Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment, it means a lot to me and to all authors.
Thanks to everyone for supporting the ladies of WTF Reviews. I love it when I find people with the big brass balls to not only follow their dream but make it all nice and shiny too.
Thanks for the interview and sharing. Read the book review and the blurb for Sodom and Detroit which sounds fun too. Maybe after finishing my current read.
Ann…Thank you so much for the interview. I am honored that you trusted us with The Bodyguard’s Princess. I can’t wait to read TBP. I’ve been roughing it on Wyoming, oogling hot cowboys at Cheyenne Frontier Days, I’m sitting in the Denver airport as I type this waiting to board the plane home. Good luck on release day.
Like the website
Im intrigued about how this book will end.
What a great interview, the book sounds great
Jeanine
Great interview. It sounds like it is a wonderful book. Can’t wait to add it to my book collection.
Sarah
And the winner is…
I put all the names in a hat (literally – a cowboy hat!) and my granddaughter drew out the winning slip of paper:
Congratulations La Crimson Femme! Send your name and e-mail address to bcondit52@gmail.com.
Thank you everyone for your pithy comments today! Thank you, Ann, for providing the interview and the giveaway.
A BDSM club and a drag queen! Holy cow, I needed that shock. Now I have to add this to my wish list. I’m really sorry I missed the giveaway.
I have to say that I recently discovered your work, Ann, and I love your style. I missed the giveaway but wanted you to know that you have a new fan. 😀
Congrats La Crimson Femme!! Thank you for stopping by. Thank you everyone else for stopping by =) Ann Thanks so much for the interview and the give away!!! Becky..AWESOME Review and Interview, Thank you =)
Congratulations La Crimson Femme! If you could please email me at ann_mayburn AT hotmail DOT com I’ll be glad to send a copy of ‘The Bodyguards’ Princess’ to you. 🙂
Wow! Thank you! I’m glad I came back to look. I’ll be sending you an email shortly.